majority

Majority

Full age; legal age; age at which a person is no longer a minor. The age at which, by law, a person is capable of being legally responsible for all of his or her acts (e.g. contractual obligations), and is entitled to the management of his or her own affairs and to the enjoyment of civic rights (e.g. right to vote). The opposite of minority. Also the status of a person who is a major in age.

The greater number. The number greater than half of any total.

The common-law age of majority is twenty-one although state legislatures may change this age by statute. Infants reach the age of majority on the first moment of the day preceding their twenty-first birthday. Minority is the period of time when a child is an infant.

majority

n. 1) the age when a person can exercise all normal legal rights, including contracting and voting. It is 18 for most purposes, but there are rights such as drinking alcoholic beverages which vary and may require greater age. 2) 50 percent, plus one of votes cast. (See: minority, infancy, child)

majority

the age when a person attains full legal capacity, even if there may still be many things that cannot be done legally or, indeed, many things now in the UK which can be done younger, especially at 16 years. In the UK at the moment the age of majority is 18 years.

MAJORITY, persons. The state or condition of a person who has arrived at
full age. He is then said to be a major, in opposition to minor, which is
his condition during infancy.

MAJORITY, government. The greater number of the voters; though in another
sense, it means the greater number of votes given in which sense it is a
mere plurality. (q.v.)
2. In every well regulated society, the majority has always claimed and
exercised the right to govern the whole society, in the manner pointed out
by the fundamental laws and the minority are bound, whether they have
assented or not, for the obvious reason that opposite wills cannot prevail
at the same time, in the same society, on the same subject. 1 Tuck. Bl. Com.
App. 168, 172; 9 Dane's Ab. 37 to 43; 1 Story, Const. Sec. 330.
3. As to the rights of the majority of part owners of vessels, vide 3
Kent, Com. 114 et seq. As to the majority of a church, vide 16 Mass. 488.
4. In the absence of all stipulations, the general rule in partnerships
is, that each partner has an equal voice, and a majority acting bonafide,
have the right to manage the partnership concerns, and dispose of the
partnership property, notwithstanding the dissent of the minority; but in
every case when the minority have a right to give an opinion, they ought to
be notified. 2 Bouv. Inst. n. 1954.
5. As to the majorities of companies or corporations, see Angel, Corp.
48, et seq.; 3 M. R. 495. Vide, generally, Rutherf. Inst. 249; 9 Serg. &
Rawle, 99; Bro. Corporation, pl. 63; 15 Vin. Abr. 183, 184; and the article
Authority; Plurality; Quorum.

The shortlisted bidders for the majority stake in the state-owned aircraft manufacturer are a consortium led by Czech private equity company Kilcullen Kapital Partners; a consortium led by the banking company Benson Oak and RPG Industries; a consortium led by Omnipol; and a consortium comprised of PPF Investments and J&T Finance, a Czech and a Slovak investment company.

The American subsidiary of the Japanese Tyre giant Bridgestone, Bridgestone/Firestone (BFS), announced in mid-August that it had acquired a majority stake in the Tyre distributor Morgan Tire and Auto (MTA), based in Clearwater (Florida), making it the leading tyre distributor in the United States.

All content on this website, including dictionary, thesaurus, literature, geography, and other reference data is for informational purposes only. This information should not be considered complete, up to date, and is not intended to be used in place of a visit, consultation, or advice of a legal, medical, or any other professional.